The Best Foods to Break Your Intermittent Fast For Weight Loss [+3 FREE Recipes!!] (2024)

FAQs

What is the best thing to eat when breaking an intermittent fast? ›

Soups that contain protein and easily digestible carbs, such as lentils, tofu, or pasta, can gently break a fast. Avoid soups made with heavy cream or a large amount of high-fiber, raw vegetables. Vegetables. Cooked, soft, starchy vegetables like potatoes can be good food options when breaking a fast.

A 2023 review of research found that the 16/8 method and 16/8 combined with restricting calories were effective strategies for weight control in adults with overweight or obesity. An eating window starting before noon led to greater weight loss than one that began after noon.

The beauty of oats is that they're a great source of fibre and a small amount of protein. Like veggies, cooked oats may be easier to digest, if you have a sensitive stomach, after a fast. Steer clear of instant or quick oats, they contain a lot less fibre due to their processing.

Foods to Avoid When Breaking a Fast

Alcohol and caffeinated beverages. Fried foods. Foods that are problematic for you personally. Too large or heavy a meal may cause indigestion or discomfort for some people after a longer fast.

No matter whether you enjoy them scrambled, boiled, or even cooked in an omelet, eggs can be a fantastic food to choose when breaking a fast. They are packed with high-quality protein, are relatively easy to tolerate, and are a nutritional powerhouse.

Breakfast has become the most common option for people to skip when following some form of time-restricted eating or intermittent fasting. People tend to find it easiest because generally, it's the meal commonly taken at a time of hurry, as you rush out the door in the morning.

It's best to limit ultra-processed foods like packaged snacks, deep-fried items, sugary drinks, and most frozen meals. These negate the positive effects of 16/8 intermittent fasting. To begin 16/8 intermittent fasting, choose an 8-hour window and limit your food intake to that time span.

According to some researchers, fasting for 10–16 hours can cause the body to turn its fat stores into energy, which releases ketones into the bloodstream. This should encourage weight loss. This type of intermittent fasting plan may be a good option for beginners.

Why am I not losing weight on 16:8 fasting? ›

If you've tried intermittent fasting but aren't losing weight, possible reasons why include overeating during your eating window and poor food choices. To help, you can try eating fewer calories, work on balancing your meals, or create a smaller or larger eating window.

Losing 5 pounds a week comes to reducing your food intake by 3500 calories over seven days. The value that represents the decrease in calorie intake is known as the calorie deficit. If you want to lose 5 pounds in a week, you will need to reduce your food intake by 17,500 calories, which is a huge calorie deficit.

Foods rich in protein and fiber will fill you up, which is especially important on fasting days when you won't be eating as much. Some examples of protein and fiber rich foods include: chicken and lean meat, broccoli, milk, black beans, almonds, peanut butter, bananas and pasta. Don't over-indulge on non-fasting days.

After fasting, it is important to prioritize foods that rich in fiber, such as fresh fruit and vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins, such as white fish and chicken. These help to manage hunger pangs and maintain muscle mass.

After the Fast

It's important to eat slowly, especially after longer fasts. I like to break fast with a hot cup of tea with a teaspoon of sugar. I'll then move onto something low in fiber, which is easier on the stomach, like a half bagel with tuna fish or a hard-boiled egg.

Resume eating with a small meal and eat slowly. Start with a nourishing bone broth or some psyllium husk in water. Eat a small fresh salad of tomato and cucumber and keep your protein on the light side, such as fish or chicken, and small — about the size of your palm or a deck of cards.

The best way to break a fast is to continue eating normally and get back into your regular eating routine. If you eat an unusually large meal after your fast day, you may end up feeling tired and bloated. Try easing gently back into your normal food routine instead.

Food and drinks that contain calories

Strictly speaking, any amount of calories will break a fast. If a person follows a strict fasting schedule, they should avoid any food or drinks containing calories. Those following a modified fasting diet can often eat up to 25% of their daily calorie needs while fasting.

It's not a diet, so unless you have individual dietary restrictions, you can eat whatever you want within the eight-hour time frame. But the plan will work best for weight loss if you are already making smart, nutrient-rich choices, said NBC News health and nutrition editor Madelyn Fernstrom, Ph.